Basic Training: Satan Is Our Adversary Series

“Our Adversary – Satan”

Bible Boot Camp Series – Week 4

January 23, 2005

INTRO:

Illustration: “In the Dark”

A young soldier and his commanding officer got on a train together. The only available seats were across from an attractive young lady who was traveling with her grandmother. As the four engaged in conversation, the soldier and the young lady kept eyeing one another, as there was an obvious mutual attraction.

Suddenly the train went into a tunnel, sending the train car into darkness. Immediately two sounds were heard: the smack of a kiss, followed by the whack of a slap across someone’s face.

As the four came back into the light:

The grandmother thought, “I can’t believe he kissed my granddaughter, but I’m glad she gave him the slap he deserved.”

The commanding officer thought, “I don’t blame the boy for kissing the girl, but I wish her aim was better and that she’d slapped him instead of me.”

The young girl thought, “I’m glad he kissed me, but I wish my grandmother hadn’t slapped him for doing it.”

And as the young soldier sat in his seat smiling, he thought, “Wow, I can’t believe I got to lay one on such a hot girl, slap my commanding officer, and get away with both!

The Point:

It’s easier to get away with certain things in the dark. That’s why the Bible (John 3:19) tells us that many people love the dark because of how it hides their evil ways.

Today, we’re going to talk about something dark, something that I don’t particularly enjoy talking about, but something that we all need to have a certain level of understanding of. It is the concept of evil as embodied by our adversary, who is most commonly known as the Devil or Satan. The Bible also refers to him as: Lucifer, Beelzebub, the ruler of this world, the accuser, the deceiver, a roaring Lion, the father of lies, and our enemy.

Some Christians might initially think that the unbeliever or non-Christian is our enemy. But they’re not. That’s not to say that you won’t occasionally meet or hear of someone so full of rebellion toward God that they might seem to be an enemy of Christ.

The secular media and many of the world’s governments work relentlessly to undermine God’s truth, but they are not the enemy either – they may very well be some of the enemy’s favorite tools that he gladly uses for his purposes, but again, they are not our enemy. Our enemy is Satan and the spiritual forces of evil.

Ephesians 6:11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. 12 For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.

Our adversary is very real and the Bible tells us that he means business.

1 Peter 5:8 Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.

While this topic may not be as touchy/feely or warm and fuzzy as some, there are reasons we need to discuss it.

In Luke 14, Jesus explains how an army or a King would be foolish to not first study an enemy before deciding whether or not to go to battle against him…. in the same paragraph he also expresses how someone wanting to build a tower would need to first inventory what supplies they need and how much it’s going to cost.

Likewise, we need to plan ahead, and we need to be familiar with what we’re up against, so that we can withstand our enemy’s assault.

1. WHO THE ENEMY IS:

Let me briefly list for you a few of the things scripture specifically tells us about the devil.

a) He was an angel or cherub that God created. Ezek. 28:13,14

b) He was the perfection of wisdom and beauty. Ezek. 28:12

c) He is a fallen angel that once was good, just as are all the demons that he commands. Ezek. 28:13,14

d) He was named Lucifer before his fall, which came due to the sin of pride. Isaiah 14:12

e) He wanted to be like God and attempted to steal God’s throne. Isaiah 14:13,14

f) He possesses great intelligence, knowledge of scripture, will, pride, memory, desire and organizational ability. 2 Corinthians 2:11, Matthew 4:6, 2 Timothy 2:26, 1 Timothy 3:6, 1 Timothy 4:1

All this is documented in scripture.

Our enemy is not someone to take lightly. He is real, he is powerful and it is not wise to underestimate him, in fact, doing so can have deadly consequences.